Settled in the Maritimes of Canada, surrounded by the forest, I live a simple life of gratitude with my soul mate and fur family. This blog is a journal of my art, food, garden, my life and my thoughts. Thanks for reading!

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Sunday Food and Pets Post - Snuggly Pets

Winter Sunrise

Hello my Friends! 😊

I hope you're all doing well and enjoying life! I love that the days are a little longer so that I can take the dogs out much earlier and see the sun rise! I took the above photo yesterday morning.

This is how my world looked this morning, we got two feet of snow overnight. Let the shoveling begin, bah! 😟

With that snowfall, the path to the woods is officially inaccessible.

Charlie, Marlene and Jack

So it's back-road walking until April. That arctic cold snap is gone and we are now having a nice "warm" spell. I'm very pleased because that means I can take all three dogs out each day for a walk! Usually I only take Charlie because it's too cold for Marlene and Jack. I hate to admit it but those two are getting on in age and they really suffer when it's very cold out.

Oscar, Dana and Leo

The cats are very happy to be snuggling by the heater on the couch in the living room!

We've mostly been eating leftovers and food from the freezer. Alex is vegetarian for the most part, but I often enjoy a simple dinner of baked fish and veggies.

Simple comforting meals are great for winter, like stir fries.

Soups and Homemade Bread are a staple in this house during the cold months! I made some Leek and Potato Soup for Alex and an Apple Pumpkin Soup for me! I always make double or even triple batches of soup so that we can put the leftovers in the freezer and have them for future meals.

I started four more Camemberts over the weekend, two are at the brining stage and two are air drying. These will be ready in March.

Oscar and Jack, cuddling in Jack's bed

Big Boss Leo - How is he comfortable??

I know that some of my friends visit my blog only on Sundays. I posted the following message on my Thursday post, so I'm going to repeat it today if you don't mind:

On a personal note, I wanted to let you all know that the next few months will be jam-packed for me. I am taking even more art classes, I'm working on a project for a home business, and in a few weeks the house hunting begins! We'll be traveling from here in Quebec to visit homes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. And if all goes well, we'll be moving in May. I may not post every Sunday but I will definitely be keeping up with the art date on Thursdays. I am so happy that so many people are joining in! It's very motivating and so much fun to see your art, so thank you!!! 💕

On that note, I'll wish you all a nice end to the weekend! Alex and I can't wait to get out of this area, all we can hear are the ROARS of snowmobile engines...day and night, it's horrible. When we moved to this village in 2015, you could hear a pin drop - but since a new mayor was elected he turned the village into a tourist area. I'm sure some people are okay with that, but we definitely are not!

Everyone sounds content and happy enjoying winter. We have had a mild spell as well, thankfully bringing the snow banks down, we had six foot snow banks at our cabin, take all the time you need Rain, enjoy every minute, it’s an exciting time for you and I’m so happy it’s all coming together for you.

what delicious food, I love cheese but also the other as well.In this winter landscape, sometimes sun without. And your animals are happy, too, and are cuddling together on their blankets.bad what your mayor is doing and all day tourism from myself.That's why I always go to the sea very early or certain times when I know there are hardly any.Good thing you are looking for a new house.Have fun with the art course and good luck with your search!Have a good week, Elke

Your food always looks gorgeous, and I love to see your furry family! Glad it's a bit warmer. And I know all about feeling the cold more when you're old! I notice it day for day....Have a great week, hugs, Valerie

Two feet of snow is a lot. I have lived in places where we would get that much snow and it closed the city down. It looks so pretty but soooo cold. I hope you and Alex are able to find your forever home this year.

Oh, that's exciting that you are looking out of province for a place. Do you know those areas well? I went to school in N.S. for a year. Your food, well, leek and potato soup and bread - that's comfort at its best. -Jenn

Oh Rain that's a beautiful view you have such a shame it's spoilt for you now being turned into a tourist area but i'm glad it's a bit warmer so you can take all three dogs out. Makes me smile seeing the dogs out in the snow and our baby not wanting to go out in the rain hee hee silly pup she is. Your so well prepared with your batch making and freezing of foods and very clever making your own cheese. Sending warm hugs your way Tracey xx

Hello Rain, and great post! Your fur babies look so adorable! Those Camemberts look fantastic! I am really pulling for you in that search for your homestead! I know how time consuming that search will be, and it will be good to hear from you, any time you have to post. Have a wonderful week, and stay warm!

I love all your adorable critters, Rain! I hope that your three little squirrels are making it through the winter well. I'm excited for the new things coming for you and Alex! Take care of what you need to do with no worries!

That first photo you took above kind of looks like a painting, Rain. What beautiful serene walks yours must be. And oooh... I've been enjoying Potato Leek Soup this winter, too. I've made it twice. I don't know it doesn't occur to me to blog about foods I've made - until I visit your blog. It could be because I don't make nearly as interesting foods as you do. ;^)

The snow looks lovely, but I understand the older dogs not being able to handle the cold. As usual, your food looks wonderful and your furry family are delightful to see. I do think that a cat can sleep on anything.

Wow on that snowfall amount, Rain, as all we have had lately is ☔️ and it’s unfortunate that the noise of jet skis have ruined the solitude for all of you. Good luck with the upcoming house hunting and when you can post about it, we will all enjoy reading about what’s going on. Also glad to read the art classes are going so well. I know how the cold can be problematic for older pets and humans too. By the way, both of those soups looked so good.

Cold beauty. . . . . . . but probably tiresome by now, especially with the annoyance of the snowmobiles! Hoping so much you will find lovely new home come spring.Cheeses are looking amazing, and, like you, I'm busy making soups (some for the freezer) just about daily. Leek & Potato coming up today.

I'm so happy you are following your dreams even if it means we won't be communicating as often. But know that you have inspired me and I know I will love seeing you in your new home and hearing about all your adventures! Good luck!

I could've sworn I left you a comment but I'll make this brief. I hear ya on being busy. Just do what you can or want in Blogosphere. We understand, one's priorities come first. Best of luck with your house search. I hope y'all settle on something this spring. I know how anxious you are to have your own place. Our search continues as well. Have fun with your art classes. I'm gearing up for the annual April A to Z Challenge. I began last week working on my sketches.

Good luck with the house hunting. All that snow looks amazing and I really admire how you know how to survive in such conditions. The rice and veggies look good. I'm going to make some quinoa and a curry, stir-fried mix for lunch today. I should get started as I'm starving and by the time I'm done cooking I can go off my fast.

Thanks Laurie :) I'm super excited about the upcoming move...but the house hunting is going slow, slim pickins around the areas we're searching! I know something will pop up though. Our mild weather is all gone now, back to the deep freeze!

Thanks Elke :) When we first moved here five years ago, it was so nice and quiet. Then the mayor started his plans and I guess a lot of people thought it was okay because they voted him back in. It's terrible to hear snowmobiles running up and down the street in the middle of the night. And we are so far from any town that if we call the police to complain, it takes them 45 minutes to get here and by then the idiots making noise are long gone. It'll be nice to get out of this area!!

Hi Jenn :) Yes! I do know the Maritimes well. I lived on P.E.I. for a year, and also in Moncton for nearly two years. I had friends who lived all over Nova Scotia too. Our main goal is that we don't want to be near any large city/town so we can have more quiet. Where did you go to school?

Hi Tracey :) I giggled that your little puppy won't go out in the rain ha ha...Jack is very much like that. When it's time to bring them out and it's cold or rainy, he stalls...lots of stretching, sitting, "not" hearing us call him...then when we say "come on Jack, now." he walks slowly to the door lol...once he's out though, he's okay!

Thanks Louise :) Just one of the squirrels stuck around, it's Spunky. We see him once in a while. He climbs the lilac tree outside my office window and then up to the roof and down the other side to another tree. It's funny. We call to him and he stops and looks at us! We think he built his winter home under our wood pile. No idea where the other two ended up but we do have lots of woods in this area. The lady at the squirrel rescue told us that the female squirrels rarely stick around, they go out looking for a mate. And because Algie (the female) and Frasier (the other male) were joined at the hip, we figured they ventured into the woods together!

Thanks Becki :)) You should post about your food! It gives people ideas on what to cook! I love seeing what people are eating, but I'm a bit kitchen-obsessed lol! The sunrises really are beautiful around here!

Thanks Nancy :) That was fresh asparagus! We have a market in the next town over and they provide fresh veggies year round. The asparagus was on sale lately so I snatched a bunch of it up! I'm not a fan of frozen asparagus, I don't like how soggy it gets when it thaws out!

Thanks Dorothy! I'd love to have rain instead of snow! At least right now! :) I do like a "white" Christmas, but after that it's worn out its welcome lol. I'll be posting about the house hunting as I go along!! I'm hoping for the best!!! And honestly as I type this, I hear "vrrroooom"...(Saturday afternoon is the worst!)

Thanks Cathy :) Oh don't worry...I am slowly catching up to comments and haven't visited blogs in a little while. Oh, have fun with your A-Z challenge!!! I wish I could find time to join in, it sounds like fun!!!

Thanks so much Baili :) I loved your comment!! :) I'm really happy I can walk the pets all together, but it still depends on the weather. We are in a cold snap again, so Charlie is the only one getting a long walk the last few days!